Folding support



July 31,1945 w s. T; HOWARD ,38

- Y FOLDINGSUPPORT Original Filed June 4 1941 '2 sheets-slim 1 s. r; II-IOWARD I 2 ,380,441

Famine SUPPORT Qriginal Filed June 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

fqql ezr T Howard Ir roR/YEY Patented July 31,1945

Styles T. Howard, J efrersonville, Ind.

Original application June 4, 1941, Serial No. 396,577. Divided and this application October 16, 1942, Serial No. 462,273 7 1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. GU?) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates broadly to an improved fire unit carrying case, in which vprovision is made for the reception of a burner and also provides for the use of the case as a support on which may be placed a receptaclefor heating purposes having a foldable extension adapted to support a receptacle adjacent to the case, said foldable parts adapted to be securely held in place Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts folded and securedby the clasp. a

Fig. 3 is a vertical'sectionon line 33 of Fig. 2 of the carrying case and support.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved clasp and adjacent parts of the carrying case and support.

Fig. 5 is a detail, perspective view of the hasp member of the improved clasp.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of theblank, from which the 'hasp is formed.

and is a division of my application filedJune 4,

1941, Serial Number 396,577, for Fire unit carrying case and heater, now Patent' No. 2,331,913,

granted October 19, 1943.

More particularly this invention relates to an improved clasp or catch mechanism adapted to secure folded portions of the case together, and is of a construction and arranged in such a manner as to lie flush, or with practically no projecting parts, and may, when desired be securely locked by the use of a captive snap hook, or by padlock. Said clasp oflering no obstruction, when a, receptacle is placed on the case for heating purposes, or when the case having a burner therein, is compactly storedduring transportation, or the like.

An object in view is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive catch mechanism wherein are keeper loops I4.

the hasp member is formed of sheet metal pressed into a form adapted to clamp together parts or the carrying case,- and receptacle support.

Another object is to provide a catch mechanism which requires only a small piece of sheet metal of light gauge that will provide, when shaped, a very strong and rigid structure and one of such form as will require the minimum space in any directionbeyond the clamped parts which are secured thereby, and function in a highly satisfactory manner.

The foregoing and further objects will appear in the following specification and be fully pointed out in the appended claim.

A- preferred embodiment of this invention is shown and described, but it will be understood that changes in form and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings in which:

Fig. i is a plan view of a burner carrying case and receptacle support showing my improved clespthrownopentoreleasepartsofsame.

With reference to the drawings I indicates the body of the carrying case, consisting of a base plate 2, right and left side plates 3 and 4, respectively, rearplate 5, top plate 6, and front hinged door I, constructed of sheet steel or any other similar material.

A fire unit not shown, may be arranged in the carrier and is adapted to snugly fit within same. Arranged in the upper plate 6 of the carrier i an opening 9 and air circulation openings H are formed in its side plates.

Top reducing angles l3 are arranged adjacent to opening 9 on top of the case and mounted in approximately the center of said members I3,

Pivotally mounted at the ends of said members l3, at 15, is a rack l6 adapted to be folded down on top. of the case within the members I3,. or swung outwardly as an extension to the reinforcing members l3, for the reception of the conta'mer and is supported in said outward and extended position by a supporting rack' ll.

' Mounted on the pivotally mounted rack I6 is a plate I8 adapted when the rack is folded down on top of the case, to close the opening 8 in the top of the case.

When the parts are nested hasps ls pivotally mounted on the members H are adapted to swing over and clamp the members l6 and H in their folded and nested positions. Loops l4 pass l6, supporting rack I1 and plate l8 in their folded and nested positions.

While the carrying case here shown is primarily for use in the protection of a burner and all or its parts during transit, it is also very useful in supporting a container for heating purposes by providing at its top reinforcing and folding members as are shown in the drawings. The burner within the carrier is in such a positlon that when lighted, the heat passes up through an opening in the top plate of the carrier and reaches the receptacle for heating.

be rack I6 is first swung out into the position in Fig. 1 which carries plate l8 and unthe opening 9 in the carrier. A support- 3; member I1 is provided at the outer end or the rack 56 to support same in a horizontal position to receive a container that has been previously heated over the opening in the carrier.

When the carrier unit is used as a heating unit, the rack l6 and support I! are extended as shown but when the carrier is in use as a carrier medium for the burner during transportation, said extending parts are folded in the manner shown in Fig. 2 which will bring plate l8 over opening 9 closing same, arranges the rack l6 within the reinforcing members and the supporting rack ll within said rack I6 as is shown. In

the position described the clasp is brought into By reference to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen hat the clasp is of very simple construction but mie'to its form is a very substantial lock to the parts.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In combination, a plate having parallel upwardly extending flanges on one side, a support hinged to said flanges and comprising two U- shaped members, the extremities of the first U-shaped member being pivoted to the flanges and the extremities of the second U-shaped member being pivoted to the first U-shaped member adjacent the bight, said members bein adapted to lie within the parallel flanges when folded, and means to secure said members within said flanges comprising a hasp pivoted to the outside of each flange, each of said hasps having a projection extending at an angle over the flange and adapted to overlie the folded members, and means for securing the hasps in position to engage the folded members.

STYLES T. HOWARD. 

